When Kalimantan was hit with one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 in Indonesia, threatening the survival of indigenous peoples, you responded. In the middle of a pandemic, indigenous Dayak youth communities in Kalimantan received your support to run the campaign #BraveKalimantan. With your help, we have supported health workers all across Kalimantan, providing masks and protective gear. We have also provided meals for families who are affected by the pandemic.
As of 16May 2020, Ranu Welum Foundation has entered its fourth year as an indigenous initiative, bringing the voices of the Dayak community to the world. The spirit of our work is still the same as when we started. Our hands are still toiling and our feet are still bustling to achieve the transformation that we have been longing to see.
Even though, at times, our voices may tremble, we are determined to speak what matters to our communities, the indigenous people of Borneo Island.
Fires burning under the surface of the ground in the peatland area
ANOTHER CHALLENGE
Our minds are always preoccupied with so many indigenous and environmental concerns, but we now have to face yet another challenge. It has been decided that the Indonesian government plans to establish 900,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) of rice fields in the peatlands of Borneo. The government claims the project is necessary as Indonesia is already feeling the brunt of a food shortage triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The president has also citeda warning from the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) about an impending global food crisis as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The previous mega rice project initiated under President Soeharto’s regime in 1997 has been causing annual fires and haze, occurring now for twenty-three years. The government claims the new rice project would not repeat the environmental mistakes of the past, but it would still be unfeasible to safely grow rice at the desired scale in peatland areas, and it most certainly would risk the clearing of even more peat forests. Read more about this here.
We worry our struggles will get more difficult in the future, especially with the ITE law (Electronic transaction information), which limits the freedom of expression through media. However, we will continue to use films and videos to advocate for the rights of our people.
“The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope.”
From the depths of our hearts, we, on behalf of both the Dayak elders and the younger generation of Kalimantan, would like to say thank you for the ongoing support that you have given during the past four years. We realize our future journey may become more difficult, but we are grateful to have you walking along with us, behind us and beside us. We wish that you and your family stay healthy and safe.
Let us be stronger together!
Emmanuela Shinta and Ranu Welum team